I don't want to sound like a snob or anything, but for those interested in the BlackHawk Warrior Wear, you can get them here for almost half the price:
BlackHawk Desert Warrior Wear
Thanks. So at that price of $115, I took a close look at them to try to understand how they are the same or different from the Kyhber Mountain Hybrid by Belleville.
Here's my impression:
1. The sole on the Blackhawk is definitely thicker, and stiffer. Also one advertisement said they have a steel shank under the midsole (don't know if this is true or not), which would definitely make them stiffer. That can be good, indifferent, or bad depending on how a person's foot likes steel shank support. This is not trivial. Many think a steel shank, which reduces the degree of sole flexing, but also adds a slight rebounding effect, makes long treks easier on the feet.
2. The Khybers are marketed by Belleville as being good for hot weather, and were specifically designed for the heat and loose rocks of Afghanistan. They have two grommetted vent holes about an inch above the footbed... this aids in quick ventilation, and quick exit of water if the boot gets flooded. They also have much more pronounced heel and toe vertical wrap around of the sole material, which aids in rock climbing, descending. So basically the Khybers (Khyber is a type of Afghan mountain goat) are made to optimize effective rock/hill climbing and descending in hot weather.
3. The Blackhawks do not have the grommetted vent holes, so they appear to be much more resistant to filling with water in the first place while walking through a stream than the Khybers (so no need for exit holes). This also means they have less air venting in hot weather.
It appears these two boots might be optimized by their designers for different conditions... the Blackhawk for all-around, the Khybers for hot/dry/loose rock terrain and not so much for wet conditions. I couldn't find the weight of each, but I suspect the Blackhawk is slightly heavier due to sole thickness and steel shank. Don't know where the Blackhawks are made... the Khybers, as opposed to most Belleville, are made in China.